Dry ore concentrator



Oct. 20, 1942. E BIGNELL DRY ORE coNcENTRAToR.

, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. l5

Oct. 20, 1942. E. BIGNELI.

DRY ORE CONCENTRATOR Filed Jan. l5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 20, 1942 DRY ORE CONCENTRATOR Edward Bignell, Los Angeles, Calif., Aassigner to "John C. Gillham, Los Angcles,.Calif.

Application January 15, 1940, Serial No. `313,840

Claims.

This invention relates to 'dry ore concentrators, and more particularly to a device of that character adaptable for separating values from gangue in crushed ore, the principal object of the invention being to provide an ecient, convenient, and relatively economicaldr-y ore concentrator for such a purpose.

Other important objects of the present invention are to reduce the amount of work required in concentrating ore values; to provide for sealing and cushioning an air 'chamber -relative to an ore carrying belt; to prov-ide for oscillating an ore carrying belt in a highly eiective manner; to provide for vibrating the belt as an incident to travel over the air chamber; and to provide improved elements and arrangements of them in a dry ore concentrator kofthis character, particularly in the air chamber and cooperable'belt portions of the apparatus.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the'preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l isa side velevational view of a dry ore concentrator embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical cross-section through my improved dry ore corrcentrator on the line 2 2, Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a plan View of my improved dry ore concentrator with certain of the parts being broken away to better illustrate `the construction and relation of the various parts.

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical cross-section on the line 4 4, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5-is a detail'vertical cross-section through one of my improved cushioning elements for the ore carrying belt.

Referring more inv detail to the drawings:

I, Fig. 1, generally designates a dry ore 'concentrator embodying fthe features of the present invention, and which preferably includes a main base .frame consisting ofside sills 2 and 3, Fig.

3, connected by transverse bracing elements 4 and 5, Fig. 2.

Alignedpairs of standards 6 1 and 8 9 are mounted in vertical position .and in spacedrelation on the lvside .sills 2 and 3 respectively, which standards are provided with longitudinally ar- I rangedslots l0. forslidably mounting the eXtremities of transverse shafts II and i2. Suitable collars I3 are mounted on the-shafts II and I2 in which jack screws I4-are mounted and project ards. Jack nuts I5 are also provided for the jack screws I4, which may be turned up or ydown on the screws -to .manipulate and vary the elevation of the shafts Il and I2 relative to the standards.

Fixed tothe shafts II and I2 are suitable collars I6 having upstanding ears I1 to which the opposite ends of connecting rods I8 are attached,

1 the collars and connecting -rods being spaced upwardly through the upper ends of the stand- 55 apart adjacent lthe ends of the shafts within the side sills, as vshown in Fig. 3.

Mounted on each of the connectingrods I3 are spaced bearing members I9 and 20, which are so shaped as to prov-ide Yseats 2l and 22 for vside auxiliary frame members 23 and 24. The side frame members 23 and 2 4are arrangedon edge in the seats and extend longitudinally in .parallel inwardly spaced relation to 4the side sills `2 Yand 3 of the frame.

The side frame members 23 and 2'4 have bearing elements provided therein for receiving transverse shafts 25 and 26 on which drums 21 and 28 are xed. One end of theside frames 23 vand 24 may be provided with a tensioning device '29 engageable with the shaft 26 to -shift it longitudinally relative to the side frames for vadjusting the tension on an endless belt 30 mounted on the drums betweenfthe side frame members.

The endless belt ymay be of suitable character,

the principal requirement being that'it have sufcient porosity for allowing jets of forced air to pass therethrough. A series of spaced transversely arranged cross rods 3I is also provided in the inner face of the belt for imparting suiiicient rigidity to the lbelt to `sustain substantial quantities ofvore on the belt, the cross rods 3`I being spaced in such a manner as to mate with spaced grooves 32 and 33 in the peripheries of the drums so that the runs of the belt will have no difliculty passing over the drums -at the extremities of the belt.

35. and 36 designate-vertically arranged standards which project upwardly from the main frame at spaced-points between .the side frame members 23 and .24. The standards 35 and 36 support an air 4chamber 3l at their upper ends in iixed position longitudinally of the frame between the frame members 23 and 24, as particularly shown in Fig. 2. rIhe standards and 36 are also of a height sufcient .to position the bottom w-all 38 of the air chamber-above the lower run 39 of the belt and the upper wall 4I] of the air chamber substantially immediately below the upper run 4I of the endless belt, ther-airchamber further being of a length less than the distance between closest points of the drums 21 and 28 to provide space for laterally extending brackets 42 which project outwardly from opposite ends of the air chamber in spaced relation on opposite sides thereof, as shown in Fig. 5. The brackets 42 are preferably provided with threaded bearing openings for receiving threaded heads H having bores therethrough for passing bolts, the upper ends of which are suitably fixed to bearing blocks 43. The lower ends of the bolts are adapted for slidable mounting in the heads H under control of springs S, the ends of which bear against the heads H and blocks 43 respectively. It is apparent that the threaded mountings of the heads H provide for adjusting tension on the springs to control the degree of possible re- Iciprocation of the blocks 43 relative to the air chamber 31. The blocks 43 are provided with bearing openings for rotatably seating -a hollow shaft 44 having apertures 45 therein, a closed end 46, and an open end provided with a valve 41, for example, of the type used in inflating and deflating pneumatic tire inner tubes.

A cushioning housing 48 preferably of rubber or other resilient material, and preferably of cylindrical conformation, is mounted on the shaft 44 about the apertures 45 and between the blocks 43, the housings 48 being of a diameter suflicient for projection above the top wall 49 at the opposite ends of the air chamber.

As shown in Fig. 2, the cushioning housings 48 have sealing engagement with the belt 26, and the top wall of the air chamber is preferably provided with spaced transversely arranged slots 49 and 59 for allowing passage of air from the air chamber through the slots into contact with the bottom face of the upper run of the ore carrying belt. Y

In order to seal the ends of the air chamber in relation to the cushioning housings 48 and the belt 28, flaps 5I and 52 are preferably mount-` ed on the end walls of the air chamber, as by fastening devices 53, these flaps extending into engagement with the housings 48 and sealing off the space between the peripheries of the housings and the ends of the air chamber.

The top wall of the air chamber is also provided with spaced runners 55 and 56, Fig. 4, that are arranged in spaced longitudinal relation to the air chamber and are spaced approximately the width of the ore carrying belt, the purpose of the runners being to curve the side edges of the belt, as shown at 51, in such a manner as to retain a layer of ore of a suitable depth on the belt.

In order to provide air with which to act on the ore carrying belt through the slots in the top wall of the air chamber, a duct 58 is suitably connected preferably with the bottom wall of the air chamber about an aperture 59 therein, which duct leads, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, to a blower 60, mounted on a frame 6I at one end of the main frame of the ore concentrating machine.

With the structure thus far described, it is apparent that a stationary air chamber is provided within the runs of an ore carrying belt, and that the belt is movable upon rotation of drums, and is sealed during such movement relative tothe air chamber. Itis also apparent that the frames carrying the belt and drums therefor are adapted for oscillation.

In order to oscillate the frames, and consequently the belt, standards 62 and 63, Fig. 3, are provided which have bearing members supporting a transversely arranged drive shaft 64. Conventional fast and loose pulleys 65 and 66 are mounted on one end of the shaft 64 exteriorly of the side rails 2 and 3 and may be employed for connecting the shaft `by means of a belt, for example, with a prime mover, not shown.

The shaft 64 is provided with a crank portion 61, Fig. 3, to which one end of a pitman 68 is attached, the pitman having its other end connected with a shaft 69, the ends of which shaft 69 are mounted in the bearing elements I9, which support one end of the side frame members 23 and 24. Since, therefore, the bearing members I9 are engaged with the side frame members and are mounted on the connecting rods i8, connected in turn with the shafts H and I2, it will readily be seen that the side frames and belt may be oscillated at speeds depending upon the speed of rotation of the shaft 64.

In order to rotate the drums and move the belt during oscillation of the belt, the shaft 64 is preferablyv provided with a small pulley 19 connected by a belt 1l with a large pulley 12 xed to a shaft 13 mounted in bearings 14 and 15, Fig. 3, on the side sills 2 and 3. The shaft 13 may also be provided with a small pulley 16 connected by a belt 11 with a pulley 18 on a shaft 19, the ends of which are rotatably mounted in bearing members 89 and 8l on the side sills. The shaft 19 may vin turn be provided with a small pulley 82 engaged by a belt 83 with a pulley 84 mounted on a shaft 65, the ends of which are secured in bearings 66 in a suitable manner on a frame 81.

Reduction gearing 86 may be interposed between a pinion 89 on the shaft 85 and a pinion 99 on a shaft 91, the pinion 99 being connected by a chain or other suitable drive 92 with a sprocket 93 at one end of the drum 21 in xed relation to the shaft 25 preferably on the outside of the side fra-me member 23.

The end of the shaft 64 opposite the fast and loose pulleys may be provided with a large pulley 95 connected by a belt 96 with a small pulley 91 on a shaft 99 mounted within the blower and having mounted thereon suitable air impellers for imparting a rapid movement to air in the blower upon a relatively slow movement of the pulley 95.

The operation of an ore concentrating machine construoted as described is as follows:

The side frames 23 and 24 of the machine being adjusted to the proper inclination by manipulation of the jack nuts l5, and the belt being properly tensioned by the tensioning device 29, power is applied to the fast pulley 65 to rotate the shaft 64, and, through the crank, oscillate the shaft 69 and consequently, the side frames under control of the connecting rods I8.

Rotation of the shaft 64 is transmitted through the pulley 19. belt 1l, pulley 12, shaft 13, pulley 16, belt 11, pulley 18, shaft 19, pulley 82, belt 83, pulley 84, shaft 65, pinion 89, gear reduction mechanism 88, pinion 96, and chain 92 through the sprocket 93 on the shaft 25 for rotating the drum 21.

As the belt rotates responsive to rotation of the drum 21, the cross rods thereon ride over the resiliently mounted cushioning housings 48 at the ends of the air chamber and cause a whipping action of the belt in addition to oscillation thereof responsive to oscillation of the side frames. An additional vibrating action is also imparted to the belt as the cross rods pass over the apertures in the top Wall of the air chamber, the rods, in effect, valving exit of air from the chamber and permitting the air to pound the bottom face of the top run of the belt as the air is intermittently released for aiding in separating the ore particles on the belt.

The gangue and values in the ore are thus loosened by the multiple action on them, and air forced through the apertures in the top Wall of the air chamber separates such gangue and values, the gangue being blown to the top of the ore on the belt and the Values settling to the bottom for travel to the end of the top run of the belt in the direction of movement of the belt Where they may be suitably disposed of, the gangue, due to the inclination of the side frames, travelling to the opposite end of the side frames for suitable disposal.

It is apparent, therefore, that I have provided an improved ore concentrating machine which may be driven faster than ore concentrating machines in Which air chambers are carried and themselves oscillated. It is further apparent that the oscillation, Whipping and Vibrating actions provided by my improved machine facilitates separation of ore in a facile, economical and efficient manner.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patents is: l i

1. In an ore concentrating machine, a frame, an apertured air chamber mounted on said frame, an ore carrying belt mounted on said frame about said air chamber, means for moving said belt relative to said air chamber, cushioning means on the chamber, means on the under face of the belt cooperable with the cushioning means for Whipping said belt during movement thereof, the apertures in the air chamber being cooperable with said means on the belt for vibrating said belt during movement thereof, and means for supplying the air chamber with air.

2. In combination with an ore concentrating machine comprising la frame having an apertured air chamber mounted thereon, an oscillatory belt movable in covering relation to the apertures of the air chamber, cushioning means mounted on the air chamber in engagement With said belt, said cushioning means comprising an `apertured shaft rotatably mounted on said frame, a resilient housing mounted on said shaft in covering relation to the apertures therein, and means to apply uid pressure medium to said shaft for inflating said housing.

3. In an ore concentrating machine, a frame, an apertured air chamber mounted on said frame, a support oscillatably mounted on the frame, an ore carrying belt on said support, means for moving said belt on said support and in covering relation to the apertures of the air chamber, means for oscillating said support for varying the speed of the belt relative to the air chamber, means for supplying air to said chamber, cushioning means mounted adjacent said air chamber in engagement with said belt, and means on said belt engageable with said cushioning member for causing Whipping of said belt in response to movement thereof.

4. In an ore concentrating machine, a frame, an apertured air chamber mounted on said frame, a support oscillatably mounted on said frame, an ore carrying belt mounted on said support about said air chamber, means for continuously moving said belt relative to said support, means for oscillating said support for varying the speed of the belt relative to the air chamber, cushioning means on the chamber, means on the under face of the belt cooperable with the cushioning means for Whipping said belt during movement thereof, the apertures in the air chamber being cooperable with said means on the belt for vibrating said belt during movement thereof, and means for supplying air to the air chamber.

5. In combination With an ore concentrating machine comprising a frame having an apertured air chamber mounted thereon, a support oscillatably mounted on said frame, pulleys adjacent the ends of said support, an ore carrying belt extending around said pulleys and about said air chamber, means rotating said `pulleys for moving said belt in covering relation to the apertures of the air chamber, means for oscillating said support for varying the motion of the belt relative to the air chamber, cushioning means mounted on the air chamber in engagement With said belt, said cushioning means comprising an apertured shaft movably mounted on said frame, a resilient housing mounted on said shaft in covering relation to the apertures therein, and means for applying fluid pressure medium to said shaft for inflating said housing.

EDWARD BIGNELL. 

